Analyzing block type channel estimation for OFDM based digital communication system

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a promising technique in the current broadband wireless communication system due to the high data rate transmission capability and the ability to combat frequency selective fading of the channel. Channel estimation is mainly implemented by sending pilot symbols in the transmitted bit streams. In this paper, channel estimation based on block type pilot arrangements is analyzed using Least Square (LS) and Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) channel estimators. Performance is analyzed in terms of Bit Error Rate and Mean Square Error by varying pilot energy levels and by varying channel length. It is gathered that performance gets affected considerably with change in pilot energy levels implying there exist an optimum value for pilot energy for getting better performance.